By TCD TEAM
Kitui County has successfully concluded a two-day consultative retreat bringing together National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO) and agencies implementing the Bottom-Up Economic Transformative Agenda (BETA), in a bid to strengthen intergovernmental coordination and accelerate development across the county.
The meeting, held at a hotel in Kitui, focused on reviewing progress of ongoing development projects and enhancing collaboration between national and county government structures.
Speaking during the retreat, Kitui County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture Dr. Stephen Mbaya outlined several key areas requiring close cooperation between the two levels of government. He emphasized the need to strengthen livestock vaccination programmes to curb disease outbreaks and improve livestock productivity.
Dr. Mbaya also highlighted the importance of leveraging agripreneurs to connect farmers with reliable markets, mobilising farmers to join cooperatives and SACCOs to improve access to credit and organised marketing, and promoting uptake of livestock insurance under the DRIVE Project to cushion farmers against climate-related losses.
Other priority areas discussed included ensuring efficient last-mile fertiliser distribution, addressing illegal donkey bush slaughter and trade, and coordinating food assistance for communities most affected by drought across the county.
The consultative forum was attended by Dr. Moses Mbanda from the Presidential Economic Transformation Council, Kitui County Commissioner Erustus Mbui, members of the County Security Team, County Government officers, Deputy County Commissioners (DCCs), and other senior national and county officials.
Leaders present reaffirmed their commitment to sustained collaboration to ensure effective implementation of development programmes and improved service delivery to residents of Kitui County.
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